Summary
- The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) Board of Commissioners approved contracts totaling up to $9 million for lead safety work.
- The board also approved a five-year contract with Axon totaling up to $936,000 for Tasers, body cameras, and more police technology.
Follow-up questions
- What is CMHA’s Prepare for Occupancy program?
- Why were there no online public comments?
- Is rental assistance demonstration (RAD) funding available for other entities besides the government?
- What public agencies participate in sharing body cam footage through FUSUS?
Roll call for the Sept. 2 CMHA Board of Commissioners meeting
- Stephanie Pope-Earley, chair
- Joseph Black, vice chair
- Nadine Head commissioner
- Diane Howard, commissioner
- Barbara Thomas, commissioner
CEO Report
Highlights of the report from Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority CEO Jeffery Patterson:
- Details of a public art installation at Woodhill Homes are to be determined.
- Art installation approved at Riverview Tower Welcome Center.
- CMHA supported more than 120 successful moves to opportunity areas in the Community Choice Demonstration Program.
- Oct. 6-7 is the Housing Mobility Practitioners Gathering.
- CMHA hosts monthly career fairs for the community with on-the-spot interviews.
$3.9 million to clean and prep vacant units for new tenants
Documenter K Marie Smith asked: What is the Prepare for Occupancy program? The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority‘s Prepare for Occupancy program hires contractors for cleaning and other services to prepare vacant CMHA units for move in.
Resolution B: Authorizing CMHA to award separate three-year contracts with two, one-year renewal options to Brown Sugar Investments LLC, He’s Real Investments LLC, James Jones doing business as Jones General Contracting, JVI Team Construction Inc., Kingdom Bio-Recovery Inc., Mainline Services LLC, Proficient Services Inc., Tri Rivers Holding LLC, and Zennox Turnkey Solutions LLC for assistance in completing and closing out authority-wide work orders in the aggregate amount not to exceed $3.9 million subject to availability of funds.
Greer said CMHA received nine responsive bids from vendors to complete work orders. Seven of the nine are part of the PFO program (Prepare for Occupancy) to assist with backlog orders and emergency orders to complete HUD inspections within 24 to 72 hours.
Motion for adoption. Resolution adopted.
Join the movement for transparency
Civic power can start with you! We train and pay Documenters to take notes at local government meetings and share them here. Learn more about becoming a Documenter.
Almost $1 million for new tasers
Resolution C: Authorizing CMHA to award a five-year contract to Axon Enterprise, Inc., pursuant to Sourcewell Contract No. 101223-AXN, for Body Worn Cameras, Electronic Control Weapons, Digital Evidence Storage, and Live Video Access to an Integrated Surveillance Camera System in a total amount not to exceed $936,748.59.
Presenter Andrés González, chief of police for CMHA, said Tasers have been provided since 2008. Tasers are at the end of their lifecycle and are used for a “combative subject.” Body-worn cameras (BWC) are issued to all police officers to capture images when engaged with subjects.
Officer Safety Plan 10+ calls for new cameras, Tasers, increased cloud-based storage via Evidence.com, and technology that assists with officer misconduct, transparency and reducing physical harm to individuals and officers.
Board member question: What is the life expectancy for Tasers?
González said it is five to seven years. Body camera life expectancy is longer.
Board member question: What access does CMHA have to other camera systems?
González said other agencies may apply to FUSUS to access images from other participating law enforcement organizations, although permission may be needed.
Board member question: How long has CMHA had Tasers?
González replied: Since 2008. Body cameras were issued in 2022.
Motion for adoption. Resolution adopted.
$9 million for lead inspections and assistance
Resolution D: Authorizing CMHA to award separate three-year contracts with two, one-year renewal options to each of Affordable Services Inc., ARC Environmental LLC, Inspection Experts Inc. and Ohio Lead Inspectors LLC to conduct lead-based inspections and assistance as needed.
Presenter Claire Russ, chief of agency analytics, inspections and technology
Russ said Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified experts provide assessments for lead-based paint inspections and assessments, as needed, in a total amount not to exceed $9 million, subject to the availability of funds. The testing with XRF devices identifies the presence of lead-based paint and will provide data regarding what is safe.
Motion for adoption. Resolution adopted.
There’s more: Read the full notes from this meeting by Documenter K Marie Smith. They include a financial report and a more than $750,000 write-off for nonpayment of rent.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalcleveland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.
